A San Diego Unified School District bus driver has been suspended from his job and is being asked by the the state Department of Motor Vehicles to surrender his vanity license plates, which feature the words "not see," a variation on the word Nazi, positioned under a swastika, 10 News reports.
Driver Shawn Calpito's offensive license plates have been cancelled after a viewer sent in photos to the news station, who then forwarded the pictures to the DMV. 10 News knocked on Calpito's door on Tuesday, Nov. 12, but he did not answer, and has since taken his plates and Facebook page down.
"Hopefully my kids wouldn't ride on his bus. I mean, I would prefer the bus driver who doesn't espouse those ideas," Ian Seruello, whose child rides a bus in the district, told 10 News.
"This is a guy who is promoting racial hatred," civil rights attorney Jim McElroy told the local station. According to McElrory, the DMV regulates all vanity license plates, including Calpito's "not see" one, but it "is so subtle that without the other symbol, there's no way for someone regulating this to realize this is supporting Nazis."
Other parents whose children attend school in the district have spoken up to 10 News, including one who feels that through his use of the novelty plates, Calpito could have influence over the children. "They know what they're doing. They know how to brainwash. They know how to do these things," the parent said.
While some people may argue that Calpito has a right to his political beliefs, McElroy argues that it is not a legitimate one. "The Nazis annihilated six million Jews," he said to 10 News.
Sources claim that in addition to the offended viewer and parents, several complaints have been made to the district's transportation facility about Calpito's car.
"We are very pleased with the swift action of the school district," said Tammy Gillies, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League San Diego.
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